Beet-harvester.



J. A. BROWNING.

BEET HARVESTEK' APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1913.

M. 1 W E y w aw m %N w t nu ATTORN EY J. A. BROWNING.

BERT HARVESTER.

AEPLIGATIDH FILED AUG.19, 1913,

Patented May 5, 1914.

& SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' ATTORNEY WITNESSES J. A, BROWDTIN G.

BERT HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19,

Patented May 5, 19%.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES gmw/ ATTORNEY J. A. BROWNING.

BEET HARVESTER. APBLIOATION FILED AUG. 19, 1913' 4 m H w Mm NN W. m m A a H M O P H d :0 5T I. N o o w ww m o x o S mm w mm 3 x 8% 3 Q a sm 1w Ev P a a E N N mm N w 1 I, kw mi w% 8 NVENTOR s E s s E N W W ATTO R N EY 5T all whom it may concern:

1 UNITED earns i v i 1 7 i ,j .j jv i- J sTus A. BROWNING, or OGDEN, UTAH, .assrenon, or, onerous-retro, a vrrnn 1 ,SCI-IERRER, OF OGDEN, UTAH.

Beit known that I, JUsrUsv A. BRowNING, a citizenof the, United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utahyhave invented a new and useful Beet Harvester, of which the following is a specificationi- Thisginvention has reference to improvebeets from the ground and subsequently top inents in beet harvesters, and its object is to produce a harvester which will remove the thebeetsall in one continuous operation.

In accordance with the present invention "there is provided-a machine which may be drawn over. a field of beets by draft anif mals or in any otherinanner, and mounted on the vehicle 1s an elevating conveyer com- .;posedof two t1Cl]lC6I1t members between .which thebeets, extracted from the ground by suitable means. such as plows, are received and carried to an appropriate height andat such polnt the bodies of the beets are grasped between other movable members and simultaneously leveled with respect to the grasping means so that they will project at substantially the same distance therefrom,

5. and then the beets while being carried along by the grasping means are-moved against a cutting member which acts to sever the tops of the beets from the'bodies thereof, the whole structure being particularly adapted for harvesting of sugar beets.

The invention will be best understood from aconsideration of the following de- .35

tailed description. taken in connection with the acompanymg drawings formmg a part of this specification, with the further understanding -that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modlfied so long as such changes and modifications mark no material ancewith the present invention and showing departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevationofa harvester constructed in accordthe parts inthe inactive position. Fig-.- 2

is'a "plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical central section through the machine of Fig. l

l but showing the parts in the active position.

\ I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 18, 1913. Serial No. 785,519.

iannr-naavnsrna' Patented ivraj 5;? iota.

Fig. ft is a section on the line H of. Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5.5 of Fig. 1 with some parts omitted. Fig. .6is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 3 with parts omitted. Fig. 7 is a'section on theline 7+7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail section showingthe structure of oneof the beet clamping members.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a main frame 1 in which is mountedanaxle 2, said main frame being sufiiciently eXten-.

sive to permit the mounting of sustaining wheels 3 within the confines ofthe frame. There is also provided a forward extension at of the main frame which may be narrower than said main frame and at the front carries a cross beam 5 of'greater width than the extension 4. This cross beam 5 has its ends returned upon themselves, as indicated-at 6,

and each return portion '6 terminates in an ear 7 connected to the frame. extension 4 by. a pivot bolt 8, so that the beam '5 maylbe rocked upon the pivot bolt s8 as an axis. Mounted in each outer end of thebeain 5 is a stem or pintle 9 terminating below the beam in a fork 10 carrying acast'er wheel 11, the stem 9 actingas a pivot for the caster wheel. The beam 5 is controlled by a link 12 connected at one end to a stud 13 upstanding from the beam and at the other end to a latch lever 14 pivoted at 15 to the frame st and provided with a hand latch .16 in op-' erative relation to a rack segment-17 at tached to the frame 45. By means of. the

structure just described the beam 5 may be melted on its pivot 8 and the caster wheels 1 1 be thereby moved toward'and' from the frame 4:, thus causing the dropping or lifting of the frame with respect to the ground.

Secured toopposite sides ofthe frame 4 are depending frames 18 each of which carries a plow 19, the plows being spaced apart in a manner to move oil-opposite sides of beets in the ground and a suitable distance below the surface of the ground-whenthe machine is in operation to liftthebeets,

the plows throwing the dirt disturbed by them toward the center line of travelo Mounted in the forward portion ffthe frame 4 and the depending frames 18; are shafts 20 each arranged on a forwardslant and near the lower end of each shaft 20 there is mounted a-sprocket wheel 2;.

' Each main wheel. -3 is provided ribs 3 5 sprocket chain 31 the arrangement being 22 on its periphery after the custom of traction wheels, and is connected to the shaft 2 through the intermediary of a pawl and ratchet member 23 which may follow the practice of mowing machines and the like,

. theobject being to drive the shaft 2 by the wheels 3'but admit of the turning of corners without bringing any strain upon the parts. Adjacent to each wheel 3 there is a bevel gear wheel 24 made fast to the axle 'or shaft 2, and between these wheels there is a frame '25 in part supported by the axle and in part supported by the frame 1. Also, carried by the frame 1 are two frames 26 arranged at a slant so as to be higher at the rear end of the machine than at the forward end, and these frames 26 are spaced above the frame 25. These frames 26 carry plates or tables 27 longitudinal of the ma chine and extending through each pl ate 27 and frame 26 is a shaft 28, the lower end of which is stepped into the frame and between the frames and 26 carries a bevel pinion 29 in mesh with the respective bevel gear 24, the arrangement being such that the shafts 28' are driven in opposite direc- -tions by the bevel gears 24 both turning in the same direction with the axle 2.

Each shaft 28 carries a sprocket wheel 30 above the respective frame 26 and at a higher'point each shaft 28 carries a drum or pulley 31. Each sprocket wheel 30 is in line with a respective sprocket wheel or pinion 21 and encircling the sprocket wheels and extending between them is an endless .such that the adjacent runs of the two sprocket chainsarc quite close together and sufficiently close to hold beets between them after the beets have been raised from the ground. In order to maintain the adja cent runs of the sprocket chain from spreading,

they are lodged in angle strips 32 which further sustain these chains, since their adjacent runs which move upwardly 1n the operation of the machine travel on the lower webs of the angle strips 32, which lower webs are directed one toward the other, while the other webs of the angle strips are upright, thus preventing the chain runs from spreading apart; Each shaft 28 also carries asprocket wheel immediately above the corresponding end of a respective plate 27, while a similar'sprocket wheel 34 is mounted on the other end of the respec tive plate 27. Encircling each pair of sprocket wheels 33, 34 on the respective plate 27 are endless chains 35 driven by the rotative movement of the respective shafts '28.. These sprocket chains carry spaced frames 36 each of which is traversed by a rod 37 which may be squared or otherwise shaped to prevent turning and within the frame each bar is surrounded by a spring 38 bearing at one end against that end of the frame remote from the sprocket chain, and at the other end against a head 39 fast on the bar within the frame. The bar 37 is long enough to project beyond the sprocket chain side of the frame and terminates in a head 40, the arrangement being such that the heads $0 of one chain face those of the other chain on the adjacent runs of the two chains, and, moreover, the chains are so spaced apart that the respective heads 40 are normally separated'by a space less than the minimum thickness of a beet body. v

Rising from the plates 27 are posts 41 in turn carrying a plate'4l2 in overlying relation to the matching portions of the runs of the chain 35, this plate having an upturned end 43 toward the front of the machine. Moreover, at the sides of the plate are bars 44% extending lengthwise of the machine. lfSetween the front ends of these bars there is journaled a roller 45 and between the rear ends of the bars there is journaled another roller and the journal ofthe roller &6 extends through and beyond both bars 14: and there carries pulleys 4:7 each of which is connected-by a belt 48 to a respective pulley 31. lvloreover, the pulleys and are encircled by a flexible band :9 traveling over that face of the plate t2 presented toward the sprocket chains 35 with their heads 4L0, these latter members, namely the heads 40, constituting gripping and clamping means for beets, as will hereinafter appear.

When the machine "is in operative positiun the frame at is lowered toward the ground by a suitable manipulation of the lever l t permitting the frame to approach the caster wheel journals. This causes the pious if) to enter the ground to an. appropriate distance, and as the machine is drawn over the ground the plows loosen the dirt about the beets and raise the latter until the bodies of the beets rest between the adjacent rt as of the chains 3]., the plowcd up dirt falling through the chains, and these runs of the chains then rising toward the rear por tion of the machine carry the heels until ultimately the bodies of the beets are brought'between approacl'iing heads 40, the adjacent runs of which travel rearwardly with respect to the machine. The chains 31 have av greater linear speed than the heads 40 because the sprocket wheels 30 are of greater diameter than the sprocket wheels 33 and the active runs of the chains 31 end adjacent to the intake ends of the active runs of the seriesof heads 40, so that the latter may be closer together than the beets as planted because the chains '31 travel faster than the heads 40. Also the chains 31 and 35 have the same general inclina- Y against the tendency of the springs 38 and tion, While thechains 35 and heads 40 are at a lower level than the chains 31 where the latter overlap the intake end of the chains 35. As the chains 31 release the beets the heads 4-0, the matching ones of which are normally closer together than the thickness of a beet body, are forced apart therefore clamp or grasp the beets. At the same time the tops of the beetsbeing engaged by the traveling band or web 49 moving in the same direction as the beets, are

all forced to approximately the same relation to the heads 40. At this point the bodies of 1 the beets are broughtagainst a knife bladev50 carried by arms 51, 52 extending from respective front and rear posts 41 on opposite sides of the line of travel of the bee S, the arrangement being such that the blade 50 is presented at an angle to the beet bodi'esto sever them with a shear cu t.

By sharpening the cutting edge of the blade from both sidesiand making the angle 49, ,c a tops of the beets fromthe bodies, and means vfor engaging the beets to move them in the clamping means all into substantiallvthe of position of the blade quite acute to the line of travel of the beets, the power re- 'quiredto' sever the tops of the beets is lessened andacleaner out is obtained than is the 'case where the cutting blade approaches "a position more nearly perpendicular to the 30- I '5 "What is claimed is line ofjtravel of the beets. v

1. A' beet harvestercomprising means for 1ifting'- beets from the ground means constructed-to engage the bodies of the beets and convey them away fromthe lifting means, traveling means for clamping the {bodies of the beets related to theconveying fmeansto grip the beets at a lower portion of; their bodies than where engaged by the conveying mean's, means for severing the same relation to the severing means and movable in the same direction as the means forclamping the bodies of the beets.

; e 2 Abeet harvester comprising means for conveying them away from the lifting means traveling means at the delivery end of and v.at 'a lower level than the discharge end of the carrier for recewzng and clamping the entering and beet :rneans,

carrier ."bodies of the beets individually with the tops uppermost, traveling means in overriding relat on to the clamping means tor depressing the beets 1n the clamping means all to substantially the samedegree of propath-J o f the sbgfits nfwhlld-ljln. the clamping meansfor removingth tops of the beets.

jection therefrom; and severing means in the Afllb eet hanvester {comprising ground rhine, and opposed endles bodies of the beets, located n.

.ing means for moving'theibhd from, an inclinedconveyer c al ground, and conveying them toward the.

rear of the machine,continuously movable opposed clamping members at the delivery end of and at a lower level than theconveyer for receiving and clamping the" bodies of the beets with the tops'hppermost, means for severing the tops from the beets located in operative relation toitli'efiti l" of"the'"75 clamping means, and meanshk 'rri'ding relation to the clamping m'e'ai ovihg the bodies of the beets ihf'fthe dnectlonof theirlength in the clampingl-neans teen have substantially .thesanie degree; of pro jection from the clamping means when pr'e sented to the severing mieans'f 4. In abeetharvester 'meahsjfore eri'ng the ground and lifting beets ther'fronnbpposed endless carriers for thebe'ets movingtogether to receive the fbeetsl tween -them and convey them towardth'e rear' chine, and opposed endte'ssfseries 'of y I able clamping members' 'at t e' deli'veryknd of and at. a lower 'leve'l-than'the c airi'er-fbr h0 receiving andfclamping-tl bodies of the beets. a

5. In a beet harvesteflnieiins' or i' the ground and'lifting'beets th eposed endless carriers fo-i j the 'etsmoving' fi together to receive the fbeet be ween and convey them toward the r Trim able clamping members at he deliver of and at alower level than the" ca ri foi a receiving and clamping, e b 1 A the beets, said machine bemg als p 1 ed, with a relativelyfixed kn1 f e,-"" for ver1ng";tl1e.

convey them toward th and opposed endless clamping members att' and at a lower level than the 0 r ceiving and clamping the bodies i said machine being also prov relatively-fixed knifegforf sev iii of the beets, locatedin opl'eratii the clamping means, and sa l provided with traveling. m mg relation to the beetswlienil,

lengthwise in the clampir all substantially the same deg tion when reaching the severing 7. A beet harvester comprising ineansfor there entering the vground "a lifting endless chains having'lsync ing runs spaced apart to receive beets between them, and movable clamping members in' opposed'rclation at the discharge end of the conveyer for receiving the bodies of the beets from the conveyer and clamping them, said clamping members having an inclined path of travel substantially parallel with that of the conveyor and having thev eiving end at a lower level than the discni- "1 end of said conveyer.

8. A beet harvester having means for lifting the beets from the ground, an inclined conveyer for receiving the beets and comprising two endless chains having closely adjacent spaced runs moving in the same direction with ides for the runs holding them from sa ging and separation, when engaging the sets, inclined traveling means for clamping the bodies of the beet-s when discharged from the conveyer, said clamping means being constructed for progressive movement while clamping the beets, and said clamping means having its path of travel substantially parallel with that of the clamping means where receiving the beets v clamping the beets, and means in the path of conveyerwith itsrec'eiving end at a lower level than the discharge end of the con veyer, and means in the path of the beets carried by the clamping means for severing the tops of the beets.

9. A beet harvester having means for lifting the beets from the ground, a conveyer for receiving the beets and comprising two endless chains having closely adjacent spaced runs moving in the same direction with guides for the runs holding them from sagging and separation when engaging the beets, means for clamping the bodies of the beets as discharged from the conveyor, said being located at a lower level than the discharge end of the conveyer and being .constructed for progressive movement while the beets carried by the clampin means for severin the tops of the beets, t e machine being a so provided with means in overrict ing relation to the movable clamping means for forcin" the beets carried thereby all into substantially the same relationto the sever- 5.

ing means series of elastic clamping heads arranged to provide adjacent runs moving in the same direction.

11. In a beet harvester, means for lifting beets from the ground, means for conveying beets from the lifting means toward the rear of the machine, and means at thedischarge end of the conveyer for receiving and clamp menace ing the beets, said means comprising endless series of elastic clamping heads arranged to provide adjacent runs moving in the same direction, the clamping heads having associated therewith a severing knife in position to remove portions of the beets projecting above the clamping means.

If in a beet harvester, means for lifting from the ground, means for conveying beets from the lifting means toward the rear of the machine, and means at the discharge end of the conveyer for receiving and clamp- "ing the beets, said means comprising endless series of elastic clamping heads arranged to provide adjacent runs moving in the same direction, the clamping heads having associated therewith a fixed severing knife in position to remove portions of the beets projecting above the traveling clamping means and also having associated therewith an engaging member vin overlying'relation to the clamping means for regulating the projection of the beet bodies above the clamping means.

13. In a beet harvester, means for lifting beets from the round, means for conveying beets from the lifting means toward the rear of the machine, and means at the discharge end of the conveyer for receiving and clamping the beets, said means comprising endless series of elastic clamping heads arranged to provide adjacentruns moving in the same directiomthe'clamping heads having associated therewith a severing knife in position to remove portions of the beets projecting above the clamping means, and also having associated therewith an engaging member in overlyin relation to the clamping means for regu ating the projection of. the beet bodies above the clamping means, said-em aging member comprising a plate arranged in the path of the beets, and an endless web between the plate and the beets and there movable in the direction of beets.

14. A beet harvester comprisinga -vehi-cle having supporting wheels, driving means driven by the supporting wheels, ground entering means at'the front end of the vehicle shaped to lift. beets from the ground, a 10. In' a beet harvester, means for l fting travel of the conveyer for the beets having the receiving end in underriding relation to the discharge end of the elevating conveyor, the clamping onveyer being in substantially parallelism with the lifting conveyor, and also having driving connections with the driving members of the vehicle, severing means for the tops of the beets in operative relation to "the clampingmeans, and beet depressing means in overriding relation to the clamping means, the depressing means being provided as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signa with an endless belt to engage the beets, and ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

j clamping means.

said belt having driving-connections with 1 T T the driving mechanism of the vehicle to JUSLJS BROWAHG' cause it to travel in the same direction as the lVitnesses-r JOHDLE. BAGLEY,

In testimony that I 'claim the foregoing NELLIE MCVVHINNEY. 

